Poll

Milton-Madison Bridge

By DAVE TAYLOR
The Trimble Banner
The City of Madison and Rockin’ Thunder Jet Boat Rides, LLC have agreed to provide passenger ferry service across the Ohio River during the remaining two weeks of the Milton-Madison Bridge closure. The service began Monday, Mar. 31.

A 100-foot concrete section on the Kentucky side of the Milton-Madison Bridge has been slid into place. The slide began this morning just after 11:30 and was completed in less than two hours. Workers are now conducting finishing touches. Today’s slide is a precursor to the slide of the main half-mile-long steel truss section of the bridge, which is expected to take place later this month.

The peregrine falcons that have made the Milton-Madison Bridge their home over the years have a new nest. A new falcon box has been put in place on the underside of the new bridge over the water.
Since 2002, falcons have been known to make the bridge their nesting spot. When the new Milton-Madison Bridge work began, the project took measures to protect these birds of prey. As construction progressed, the falcon box was located on old pier #5 – the only pier that was not being re-used. Two weeks ago, the old pier was demolished.

Workers plan to use jacks to lift the southeast corner of the new Milton-Madison Bridge steel truss in order to replace a steel bridge bearing that dislodged on Tuesday, March 11. This will allow the planned slide of the new steel truss to proceed.

The Milton-Madison Bridge will be reduced to one lane tomorrow (Thursday, Jan. 10) from 9:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Engineers from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will be monitoring items on the bridge that were highlighted in previous inspections.

The Cabinet implemented a monthly inspection frequency in 2012 to review these locations. The goal is to keep the Milton-Madison Bridge operational during the super-structure replacement project.

The lane closure is subject to change due to inclement weather and other unforeseen delays.

Plans are in place to manage snow and ice removal from the Milton-Madison Bridge during the winter.

With the first bit of light snowfall around the area Thursday evening, some residents may have been curious about the methods the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s highway crews will use to keep the weight-restricted bridge open to traffic during severe weather.

The Milton-Madison Bridge, which carries US 421 across the Ohio River from Milton, KY to Madison, IN, will be reduced to one lane on Friday, November 16 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Engineers from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) will be monitoring items on the bridge that were highlighted in recent inspections.

The Cabinet implemented a monthly inspection frequency earlier this year to review these locations. The goal is to keep the Milton-Madison Bridge operational during the super-structure replacement project.